Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Cooper, Candelaria, Wilson Join Exclusive Club
Cooper, Candelaria and Wilson joined the likes of Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell in the team's Hall of Fame.
The Pittsburgh Pirates inducted three former players into their Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 4th, marking the Class of 2026. The honorees included Wilbur Cooper, John Candelaria, and Jack Wilson, each representing a distinct era of Pittsburgh baseball.
Wilbur Cooper, a starting pitcher during the early 1900s, spent his entire career with the Pirates, playing from 1912 to 1924. During his tenure, Cooper compiled an impressive 202-159 record with a 2.74 ERA and over 3,000 innings pitched. He set franchise records for wins (202) and complete games (263), and remained the team's all-time leader in these categories.
John Candelaria, another starter for the Pirates during the 1970s, enjoyed a successful tenure from 1975 to 1985. His best season came in 1977 when he earned an All-Star selection, posted a league-leading 2.34 ERA, and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting. Candelaria was instrumental in the Pirates' championship run that same year, throwing six shutout innings in Game 6 of the World Series as the team overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the title.
Jack Wilson, the Pirates' primary shortstop from 2001 to 2009, left an indelible mark on the franchise with his exceptional defensive skills. He led the league in defensive WAR in 2005 (4.1) and finished his career with the third-best defensive WAR in franchise history (18.3), trailing only Bill Mazeroski (24.0) and Honus Wagner (20.8).
In 2004, Wilson set career highs in batting average (.308), OPS (.794), doubles (41), triples (12), and runs (82), earning him a spot on the National League's All-Star roster and the Silver Slugger Award as the NL's best offensive shortstop.
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